ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Thursday assured that it would take serious action on threatening letters received by some senators allegedly for raising their voice in favor of high treason proceedings against former military dictator Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf
“I will take up the matter with the prime minister seeking his indulgence to appoint a bold and honest officer to investigate the matter without any pressure,” leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq assured the house.
“It is a very serious matter and we need to immediately identify those behind this move and bring them to justice,” he said responding to point of order raised by the leader of the opposition Chaudhary Aitzaz Ahsan.
Aitzaz Ahsan had informed the house about two notorious and threatening letters written to senators Raza Rabbani and Zahid Khan for their vocal stance against dictators and in the support of proceedings against Gen (r) Musharraf for high treason case under article 6 of the constitution.
Chairman Senate Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari observed that the report on the matter be presented to the house next week so that it could further proceed in light of the findings of its investigation.
Aitzaz Ahsan brought the matter to the notice of the house and said that senior senators Raza Rabbani and Zahid Khan had received two letters threatening dire consequences of assassination and kidnapping besides using abusive language.
He said that both senators were pressurized to change their stance against the former dictator. He said these letters were received through the National Assembly and Senate secretariats and both were hand-written.
Aitzaz said a committee should be constituted to thoroughly probe this grave issue and trace who were behind this saga.
Raja Zafarul Haq said that it was indeed a serious matter and needed immediate notice. He sought copies of the letters and assured the house that the matter would be taken up urgently to unearth the hidden hands behind them.
Nayyar Bukhari said the interior minister be asked to proceed on the matter in accordance with the law and inform the house what action the government will be taking to ensure the security and liberty of the senators.
Raza Rabbani said that he had received the first letter ten days ago which had warned him to review his stance on Article 6 or “be assassinated or kidnapped”.
He said in the second letter, the names of Finance Ishaq Dar and Zahid Khan were also included.
Zahid Khan said that his party workers and leadership rendered supreme scarifies in the past and always opposed every dictatorial regime.
He recalled that ANP leader Bashir Bilour, Mian Iftikhar Hussain’s son and even his brother were targeted.
He was of the view that dictators had ruined the country and democracy was the only solution to address its problems.
He said that they would fully support the government in implementation of Article 6 and bring the trial to its logical end.